Sara Sharif hooded and beaten with belt buckle and pole during two years of abuse, murder trial told

Her father, Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of murdering the 10-year-old alongside her stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.

Sara’s body was discovered in her bunk bed at her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, 2023, after her father made a call from Pakistan, allegedly saying he had “beat her up too much” for being “naughty,” the court heard. Prosecutors claim she had died two days before the call and that the three defendants fled the UK hours after her death, booking a flight to Pakistan.

Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC told jurors that the abuse spanned over two years, with evidence of restraint and beatings. The court heard that makeshift hoods, soiled nappies, and potential weapons such as rolling pins and a cricket bat were found at the scene, indicating more than one adult’s involvement.

Forensic testing revealed Urfan Sharif’s fingerprints on parcel tape used to cover Sara’s head, and traces of the child's blood were found on the kitchen floor, vacuum cleaner, and a cricket bat.

Sara suffered dozens of injuries, including probable human bite marks, burns from a hot iron, and scalds from hot water, according to a post-mortem examination. Some of her bruises were reportedly caused by a pole or a belt buckle, which was recovered from a children's Wendy house in the garden.

In messages presented to the court, Batool expressed regret over the abuse. In May 2021, she messaged her sisters, writing, “Urfan beat the crap out of Sara. She’s covered in bruises, literally beaten black. I feel really sorry for Sara, poor girl can’t walk. I really want to report him.” Despite her concerns, no action was taken at the time.

Jurors were also told about neighbours who had witnessed disturbing sounds coming from the Sharif household. One neighbour recalled hearing a "single high-pitched scream" two days before Sara’s death, while others reported hearing banging, rattling, and the sound of children crying and being smacked.

Sara had been attending school before being pulled out for homeschooling in April 2023. Teachers had noted injuries on her face, including bruises under her eyes, and raised concerns with social services. In one instance, Sara attempted to cover her injuries with her hijab when questioned by her teacher.

In an unusual detail, jurors heard that a Ring doorbell camera, purchased just a month before Sara's death, was missing when police searched the home after her body was found.

The defendants have denied charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. The trial continues.